Compound spring suspension for vehicles.



J. J. HEILMANN.

GOMPOUND SPRING SUSPENSION FOR VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.4,1908.

Patented Aug. 22, 1911.

0 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

l I l l U J. J. HEILMANN.

GOMPOUND SPRING SUSPENSION FOR VEHICLES APPLIUATION FILED AUG. 4, 100e.

Patented Aug. 22, 1911.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 2 J. J. HEILMANN.

GOMPOUND SPRING SUSPENSION FOR VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 4, 190B.

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J. J. HEILMANN.

OOMPOUND SPRING SUSPENSION PoR VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 4. 190B.

1,001,394. Patented Aug. 22, 1911.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

J. J. HBILMANN.

ooMPoUND SPRING SUSPENSION EOE VEHICLES.

APPLIOATION FILED AUG. 4, 1908. 1,001,394, Patented Aug. 22, 1911.

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cuLUMnIA PLANOGRAPM C0., WASNINGTDN. D. c.

J. J. HBILMANN.

GOMPOUND SPRING SUSPENSION FOR VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 4, 100s.

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Jn/72 facgues feL'Z/rb an JEAN JACQUES HEILMANN,

OF PARIS, FRANCE.

COMPOUND SPRING SUSPENSION FOR VEHICLES.

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To all whom it may concern# Be it known that I, JEAN Jaeonns Hint.-MANN, a citizen of the French Republic, residing at Paris, in theDepartment oil the Seine, France, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Compound Spring Suspensions tor Vehicles, oi which the'following is a specification.

The present invention is tor the purpose of realizing the problem of arational suspension and its principle consists in interposing betweenthe carriage body ol the vehicle and the parts in contact with theground, a compound balanced automatic suspension, which prevents theell'eets ot shocks resulting from inequalities in the planes over whichthe vehicles are traveling, It'rom being perceived.

lfhe tigures ot' the drawing accompanying this description are for thepurpose of showw ing, tor the sake of example, how the principle of thissystem oit balanced com pound suspension can be applied to any vehicleswhatsoever. Furthermore, some ot the figures are 'tor the purpose ofshowing the moditication brought into the principal parts as well ascertain details, because it is very evident that with this system oitcompound suspension, based on a principle at present unknown, the`principal known parts no longer correspond.

The said improvement reters principally to steering, to the axlesconnecting the wheels, as 'well as the journals of the steering wheels,and to the connection between the gear-wheel and the rotary parts towhich power is applied.

Figures l, Q and 3 show such a system ot' suspension with the mostsimplilied :torni ot construction ot this arrangement, and one which ismore particularly adapted tor heavy weights on rails or on roads; inthese iigures, this system ot suspension is shown as applied to a motoronmihus, in which Fig. l is a side elevation showing the back and thetron't si'lspension. l? ig. 2 shows a partial sectional elevationlooking at the tront o't the vehicle end on. Fig. 3 is a plan Viewshowing the arrangement ot' the :trame plates, its 'flanks supportingthe body oit the vehicle as well as the arrangement for steering thewheels. rlhe Figs. 4t, 5, (S and 7 show the same system of suspensionwith certain modifications in the construction. Hotel ring to theseignres: Fig. t is a side elevation showing the steering wheel partly inSpecification of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 4, 1908.

Patented Aug. 22, 1911.

Serial No. 446,869.

section. Fig. 5 is a tront view in sectional elevation. Fig. C 1s a sideelevation showing the back wheel in partial section. Fig. 7 is a itrontsectional view oit one halt of the hack.

lt 'is evident that the only object of all these lgures is to show forthe sake of example some arrangenients assisting in the material,realization olf the principle of balanced compound suspension, formingthe object ot the present invention, as well as for all themodifications or details oi" the farious parts, such as the steering, tli actuating or other parts, and that all other arrangements,modilicatnms or details suitable for assisting in the realization ot theprinciple ot this system ott suspension, will in no way modify theprinciple itsell".

Referring to Figs. l, Q and 2l, l is a steel cross bar supported in thecenter by a collar Ytorming part olE a ball bearing 2 later referred to.I he huh is mounted in the said collar either in a bearing ot suitablemetal or on balls or on rollers, or in any other kind oil' bearing whichby its construction reduces to a minimum the co-cliicient oit resistanceto the rotary e'li'ort o3t the wheel. This cross bar carries at each otits ends 3, ll, 5, (3 suspension links 7, pivoted to the ends of thecompound springs 8 and t). 'lhese springs S and t) are attached by theirmiddle. portion to a movable vertical support 1t). rlhis support il()has a vertical slot longer than the maximum tlexion of the springs. Thevertical displacement of the slide support 10, is etl'ected along thehuh ot the wheels in which a groove l). is turned for this purpose.'.lhe slot of the support l0 is open at the bottom so as to permit otits being mounted on the hub but after mounting is closed by a head 123,carrying the fixing socket ot the lower compound spring 9. 'lhe verticalsupport l0 terminates at its upper portion '1.4L in the torni oft a T.At the ends 115, lt, ot this part o'lf the support are arranged thesuspension links 17, pivoted to the ends oilj the main springs `18fitted either in a :trame plate lt), carrying the 'vehicle or in asuitable support litted to the body or the chassis oi the vehicle. Thearrangement ot the lront wheels differs :from the arrangement ot theback wheels in this respect that above the point Q0 where the verticalsupport l() carrying the compound springs 8 and t) attached by theirmiddle, takes its form of T, this support is divided into two partssliding the one on the other by means of sectors 21 and 22. rThese twosectors are hooked the one in the other and follow an arc ot' a circlehaving its pivoting center in the axis of the pivot controlling thesteering of the wheels Q3. As the wheels have to be turned carrying onthem the cross piece 1 to which are attached the ends of the springs 8and 9, during the turning of the wheels t-hey cause the whole of thisfirst part of the compound suspension to pivot with them; all the upperpart remaining parallel to the body or the chassis of the vehiclewithout, however, preventing the vertical support 10 from sliding alongthe hub during the working of the suspension.

On the wheel receiving a shock, the effects will be directly transmittedfrom the fellies and from the body of the wheel to the hub 24 and fromthe said hub to the cross piece 1 carrying the ends of the compoundsprings 8 and 9. The displacement of the center of this cross piece 1will then be the same as that of the center of the hub 24, the shockswill be supported by the suspension links 7 pivoted at 3, 4, 5 and 6. 1fon the contrary the springs were attached by the middle to the body orany other part of the vehicle, the effects endured resulting from theshocks would be undoubtedly transmitted with the attenuation of thesprings in the same manner as occurs to-day; but inasmuch as the springsare attached by their middle to a movable support and this supportslides along the hub, the vibration is absorbed in a plunge which thevertical support makes at each vibration; what still remains of theeffects produced by the shocks is attenuated a second time, the verticalsupport being connected by its upper end to the vehicle or to thechassis by means of a second suspension which is rigidly attached at itscenter to the vehicle and is connected by suspension links 17 to the armof the said movable vertical support 1.

The balancing or rolling of the vehicles is maintained by means ofmovable forks 25 on the axles, the lateral movements of these forksbeing checked by buffer springs 26. rlhese forks at the same time serveto prevent the axles, which have no load to support, from turning onthemselves.

From what has been said it will be seen that the distribution of theload of the vehicle is such that it is carried exactly on four pointsrespectively passing through the four hubs of the wheels. 1n thearrangement of balanced compound suspension shown in Figs. 4, 5, 6 and7, these four points are always present on the four wheels, but they areso arranged that the compound suspension for each wheel works in avertical plane passing through the middle of its hub. These four pointsfor distributing the load are shown at 27, 28, 29 and 30. r1`hese fourpoints form hinge joints. rl`he female portion 31 of these hinG'e jointsis fitted to a support 32 rigidly carried by gussets 33 on the chassis34 which carries the mechanism of the body 35. The male portion 36 inthe form of a cross carries the weight of the vehicle on sockets 37, tothe lower part of which are attached a kind of cap 38substituted for theupper portion 14 in the form of T, of the vertical support 10 andtransmit the weight of the vehicle on the single compensating springs 39which are here substituted for the main springs 18 of the firstarrangement. These compensating springs are fixed by their bases onvertical supports 10, which latter, as may be seen by reference to thefigures, are also modified. The wheels are also modified, and consist oftwo plates 40 and 41 mounted parallel and connected together in anysuitable manner on the same hub, leaving between them a free space inwhich the whole of the suspension is located. The vertical support 10slides along the hub. Fitted to this support, above and below this hubare the sockets 42, of the springs 8 and 9 of the compound suspension,the ends of which are pivoted by intermediary links 7 to the cross bar 1carried on the ball bearing 2. The sockets 42 of the springs 8 and 9also serve as stays for the vertical support 10. rlthe wheels are tiedby their axles 43 which no longer have any load to support. rliheseaxles are prolonged upwardly and downwardly by engaging arms or bars 44,which terminate in the form of disks 45 in the small boxes 4G where theycan move so as to permit the chassis and the wheels to followindependently the different movements and undulations of the vehiclewhen traveling. These disks 45 are surrounded by springs 47 so as tocheck their contact with the walls of the small boxes 46, which arefit-ted to the body of the vehicle. lVith the saine object in view theends of the lugs 44 may be provided with one or more balls 48 ofsuitable dimensions, incased or maintained in any other suitable mannerin the said extremities. At thev backrthe support 32 follows the shapeof the body 35 and then separates into two parts. rf`he two supports 32on opposite sides of the vehicle are connected together by ties 49 and50 to which the chassis 34 carrying the mechanism on the body of thevehicle is attached. The socket 37 is prolonged in the form of a rod 51which, attached to the support 36 and passing through the spring 39 aswell as the vertical support 10, serves as a guide to the various partsand imparts considerable rigidity to the suspension compensatingmechanism. This socket 37 also serves as pivoting center of the steeringwheels.

The flanges 58 of the plates 40 and 41 oit the vehicle.

are surrounded by a noise-silencer 5S) ol leather, compressedindia-rubber or the like. The compound suspension arranged in the mannerjust described absorbs the vibrations of the rods and prevents themreaching the body, the chassis and the mechanism In these improvementsthe ditferential (50 is carried by a small chassis consisting of theSupports til and the ties (3Q. rIhe ends of these ties G2 are providedwith spiral springs G3 or some other builer, indiarubber, pneumatic orthe like which are embedded in the profile et' the chassis Bil, andserve for elastically suspending the ditierential (S0 to the vehicle. The pinions (Slt of the differential (S0 mesh externally with toothedring (35, which turns internally on rollers (5G, mounted or not on ballbearings, which are inclosed in the carter or envelop 67. The spacebetween the .respective plates Ll() and il of each wheel may be coveredby inserting a trough shaped band or gutter 72 therebetween, such troughbeing secured to the support l.

I-Iaving now particularly described and ascertained the nature of mysaid invention, I declare that what I claim is:

1. In a compound spring suspension for vehicles, a wheel having` a hubwith a bearing portion in the plane of the tread thereof, a frame havinga journal for said bearing, springs supported by said frame,intermediate means in engagement with said springs and guided to have avertical movement on the hub of said wheel, and springs attached to thevehicle and supported by said .intermediate means.

2. In a compound spring suspension for vehicles, a wheel having a hubwith a bearing portion in the plane of the tread thereof, a frame havinga journal for said bearing, springs supported by said trame,intermediate means in engagement with said springs and guided to have avertical movement on the hub of said wheel, springs attached to thevehicle and supported by said intermediate means, and a loating axlejoining said Wheel to the body of the vehicle.

3. In a compound spring suspension itor vehicles, a wheel having adished outside face and a hub with a bearing portion thereon, a frameWithin the dished portion of said wheel having a journal for the bearingportion of said hub, means guided on said hub to have a Vverticalmovement within the dished portion of said wheel, springs joining saidmeans and said iframe, and springs for supporting the body of thevehicle from said means.

4. In a compound spring suspension for vehicles, a wheel having a dishedoutside :lace and a hub with a bearing portion thereon, a trame withinthe dished portion oil said wheel having a journal 'lor the bearingportion of said hub, means guided on said hub to have a verticalmovenient within the (lished portion oit said wheel, springs joiningsaid means and said frame, and a pivot support for said means to permitthe wheel to be deflected on a vertical axis extending through thebearing portion ol said hub.

5. ln a compound spring suspension ttor vehicles, a wheel having a(lished outside face and a hub with a bearing portion thereon, a 'tramewithin the dished portion oit said wheel having a journal lor thebearing portion olf said hub, means guided on said hub to have avertical movement within the dished portion ot said wheel, springsjoining said means and said iframe, a pivot support tor said means topermit the wheel to he detlected on a vertical axis extending throughthe bearing portion ot said hub, and a lloating axle t'or guiding saidwheel 'from the frame olf the vehicle.

(3. In a compound, spring suspension 'tor vehicles, a pair oilI wheels,an axle joining said wheels, a vehicle body having means `for guidingsaid axle to have a 'tree independent vertical. movement, said wheels'having hubs with bearing portions in the planes olE the treadsthereo'l", :trames having journals engaging the bearing portionsI otsaid wheels, and spring means lor supporting the body ol' the vehicletroni said trame.

7. .In a compound spring suspension :for vehicles, a wheel having a hubwith a bearing portion, a vlrame having a journal 'for said bearingportion, a structure movable on said hub substantially vertically, apair ot springs co-acting with said l'ralne and structure, a spring lorsupporting the body ot said vehicle, and means ilior connecting saidspring with said structure.

In a resilient suspension tor vehicle bodies, a pair ot wheels havinghubs with load-carrying hearing portions, an axle joining said wheels,lrames having join'- nals engaging such bearing portions, resilientlymounted structures niovable in guided relationship to said frames, andllexible connections between said frames and said structures.

In testimony whereo'lf I allix my signature in presence of twowitnesses.

JEAN JACQUES IIEI'ljh/IA NN.

lVitnesses II. C. Coxii,

IIENRY DaNenae.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

